Written Answers Friday 25 February 2011

Scottish Executive

Culture

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) agencies, (b) organisations and (c) public bodies and services it has provided with literature and other products for the purpose of encouraging a sense of national identity and at what total cost.

Fiona Hyslop: Taking pride in a strong, fair and inclusive national identity is one of the Scottish Government’s National Outcomes. It is supported by a wide-ranging and complex set of policies, programmes and initiatives across sectors. For example, the quality of our landscapes and cityscapes, our heritage, our education system, our languages, our sporting achievements and the place of key events in the Scottish calendar all help define Scots national and cultural identity.

  To collate and quantify our combined efforts towards encouraging a sense of national identity could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Culture

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) agencies, (b) organisations and (c) public bodies and services it has provided with Saltire flags for purposes other than celebrating St Andrew’s day in each of the last four years and what was the total cost was.

Fiona Hyslop: The Saltire is Scotland’s national flag and dates back to the 12th century. It is one of the most recognisable symbols of Scotland and encourages a sense of pride amongst Scots. Therefore it is natural that the Scottish Government uses it for promotional purposes at large scale national and international events, such as St Andrew’s Day, Scotland Week and Burns Night. The use of Saltire flags at St Andrew’s Day celebrations started under the previous administration.

  In line with the Scottish Government’s guidance on public procurement, securing value for money is crucial to the wider objective of delivering high quality, cost-effective public services. The Scottish Government procured Saltire flags in bulk in order to secure the best value for money and keep costs lower.

  The cost of purchasing Saltire flags in the last four years is provided in the following table. 2006-07 figures are included for reference.

  

2006-07
£132,000


2007-08
£173,750


2008-09
£89,600


2009-10
£52,200 


2010-11
£0*



  Note: *There were no Saltire Flags purchased in 2010-11. Surplus stock from the previous year was used.

  The average annual expenditure (£78,888) on promotional flags as described in the table is lower than that spent by the previous administration, which spent £132,000 in financial year 2006-07.

  These flags are distributed as and when required at events in Scotland and overseas, including our annual St Andrews Day celebrations. To breakdown the agencies, organisations, public bodies and services provided with Saltire flags and occasions when they have been used for purposes other than celebrating St Andrews Day is unavailable because this could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Culture

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) agencies, (b) organisations and (c) public bodies and services it has provided with literature and other products for the purpose of encouraging a sense of national identity since 2007 and what the total cost was.

Fiona Hyslop: As covered in the answer provided to question S3W-39227 on 25 February 2011, taking pride in a strong, fair and inclusive national identity is one of the Scottish Government’s National Outcomes. It is supported by a wide-ranging and complex set of policies, programmes and initiatives across sectors. For example, the quality of our landscapes and cityscapes, our heritage, our education system, our languages, our sporting achievements and the place of key events in the Scottish calendar all help to define Scots national and cultural identity.

  To collate and quantify our combined efforts towards encouraging a sense of national identity could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to develop the Scottish Book Trust’s book gifting scheme to include pupils in other years.

Adam Ingram: Our funding for the Scottish Book Trust is currently focused on the Early Years Bookgifting Programme which provides books for all our young children. We have no plans to extend this universal approach to pupils in other school years.

  We are aware, however that the Early Years Bookgifting Programme is linked into the Trust’s wider children’s programme, so that a real continuity of impact and benefit to children can be achieved.

Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it is allocating to the Scottish Book Trust’s book gifting scheme in 2011-12.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government places great value on what is achieved for children through the Scottish Book Trust’s Early Years Bookgifting programme and we will be providing aggregate funding of £1.05 million for 2011-12. This was announced by way of a news release on 10 February 2011 at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/02/10112505

Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted an impact evaluation of the Scottish Book Trust’s book gifting scheme and, if so, when this will be made available.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Book Trust plans a large scale evaluation of the Bookbug programme in March to April 2011. We look forward to discussing the outcome of this evaluation with them.

  The Scottish Book Trust must, of course, comply with the grant conditions which are applied by the Scottish Government to our funding and these are monitored.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there are in each industrial sector in Dundee.

John Swinney: The Jobcentre Plus notified vacancies administrative data series can be used to obtain an estimate of the number of vacancies within a specific area. It should be noted that, since not all vacancies are advertised through Jobcentre Plus, this should not be interpreted as the total number of vacancies open within a specified area and timeframe.

  The number of notified vacancies in each industrial sector in Dundee City local authority during January 2011 is shown in the following table.

  Table 1: Notified vacancies by broad industrial sectors for Dundee City local authority, January 2011.

  

Industry
Notified Vacancies


1  : Agriculture and fishing (SIC A,B)
1


2  : Energy and water (SIC C,E)
33


3  : Manufacturing (SIC D)
1


4  : Construction (SIC F)
4


5  : Distribution, hotels and restaurants (SIC G,H)
141


6  : Transport and communications (SIC I)
8


7  : Banking, finance and insurance, etc (SIC J,K)
298


8  : Public administration, education & health (SIC L,M,N)
45


9  : Other services (SIC O,P,Q)
11


Total Vacancies
542



  Source: Jobcentre Plus notified vacancies, DWP.

  Notes:

  1.Data from Jobcentre plus administrative system, reporting 100% of vacancies notified to Jobcentre Plus.

  2.These figures may not indicate developments in the labour market and may not be fully comparable over time.

  3.The Jobcentre Plus vacancies series do not provide comprehensive measures relating to all vacancies in the economy.

  4.Industry sector classification is given on SIC 2003 basis.

  5.Vacancy counts include both full time and part time vacancies.

General Practitioners

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-27498 and S3W-27499 by Nicola Sturgeon on 28 September 2009, how many GP practices have set up premium rate telephone lines since the Cabinet Secretary announced that guidance would be issued to NHS boards that would require them to press practices using premium rate numbers to reopen negotiations with service providers.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are not aware of any additional GP practices using premium rate telephone numbers and we want to encourage those which do so to review their current telephone provider arrangements.

  We have written to chief executives of NHS boards reiterating the Scottish Government’s policy that patients should not incur charges above the normal telephone call rates. I have also requested that they encourage GP contractors to review their current telephone arrangements.

General Practitioners

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27498 by Nicola Sturgeon on 28 September 2009, when the guidance to NHS boards on the use of premium rate telephone lines was issued.

Nicola Sturgeon: We wrote to chief executives of NHS boards on 23 February 2011 reiterating the Scottish Government’s policy that patients should not incur charges above the normal telephone call rates. We have also requested that they encourage GP contractors to review their current telephone arrangements.

General Practitioners

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27498 by Nicola Sturgeon on 28 September 2009, how many GP practices have reopened negotiations with premium rate telephone line providers to drive down costs to callers.

Nicola Sturgeon: We do not hold any information on how many GP practices have re-opened negotiations with premium telephone providers.

  We have however written to chief executives of NHS boards on 23 February 2011 reiterating the Scottish Government’s policy that patients should not incur charges above the normal telephone call rates. We have also requested that they encourage GP contractors to review their current telephone arrangements.

Scottish Government Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the chief executive of Transport Scotland received (a) advice or (b) recommendations from members of the Infrastructure Investment Group in relation to the Edinburgh trams project and, if so, what advice or recommendations.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Infrastructure Investment Group had any involvement with the Edinburgh trams project and, if so, how it (a) scrutinised and (b) monitored the project and what conclusions it reached regarding the management of the project.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Infrastructure Investment Group made recommendations to the (a) Scottish Government or (b) City of Edinburgh Council in relation to the Edinburgh trams project and, if so, what recommendations.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Infrastructure Investment Group provided advice to the (a) Scottish Government or (b) the City of Edinburgh Council in relation to the Edinburgh trams project and, if so, what advice.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Infrastructure Investment Group provided any management arrangements to ensure an effective investment strategy for the Edinburgh trams project.

John Swinney: The Infrastructure Investment Group had no involvement with the Edinburgh trams project.

Scottish Government Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations the Infrastructure Investment Group made to (a) the Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Executive, (b) its Strategic Board and (c) the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in 2010.

John Swinney: The Infrastructure Investment Group oversaw the recent improvements to the Scottish Government’s infrastructure investment governance structure, specifically the establishment of the Infrastructure Investment Board, helping meet the recommendations of the Public Audit Committee and Audit Scotland to strengthen governance of capital investment.

  Prior to implementing these changes, recommendations for approval were made to both (a) the Permanent Secretary and (c) me.

Scottish Government Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide examples of the Infrastructure Investment Group improving co-ordination of investment activity in 2010.

John Swinney: The Infrastructure Investment Group played an important role in improving co-ordination of investment activity during 2010. Specific examples included:

  Leading on the review of governance of the Scottish Government’s capital programme, which led to the establishment of both the Infrastructure Investment Board to take on an executive role in infrastructure governance and the creation of the Infrastructure Projects Database which provides financial, contractual and procurement details of capital projects across the Scottish Government and NHS boards;

  Co-ordinating European Investment Bank activities across the Scottish Government;

  Supporting the work of the 2010 Spending Review; and

  Examining opportunities for synergies between portfolios.

Scottish Government Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what major capital projects the Infrastructure Investment Group scrutinised in 2010.

John Swinney: During the course of 2010 the Infrastructure Investment Group (IIG) examined the following key infrastructure investment programmes:

  Schools for the Future School Building programme;

  Hub;

  Health capital programme; and

  Offshore renewable energy requirements.

  Members also used the opportunity to provide the group with updates on capital investment in their respective portfolios, including transport, prisons and further and higher education.

  The IIG also approved the establishment of the Infrastructure Projects Database, which provides financial, contractual and procurement details of around 100 capital projects across the Scottish Government and NHS Boards.

Scottish Government Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what investment funds the Infrastructure Investment Group managed strategically across the Scottish Executive and how it ensured that variances from planned expenditure were kept to a minimum in 2010.

John Swinney: While the management of investment funds are the responsibility of individual portfolios under the oversight of DG Finance, the Infrastructure Investment Group provided a forum for the strategic consideration of the Scottish Government’s overall capital budget.

Scottish Government Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what strategic issues relating to infrastructure investment the Infrastructure Investment Group considered in 2010.

John Swinney: The Infrastructure Investment Group considered a number of strategic issues during 2010. Specific examples included:

  The review of governance of the Scottish Government’s capital programme, following the recommendations of the Public Audit Committee and Audit Scotland;

  Audit Scotland follow-up review of major capital projects;

  Implications for public spending from the UK Government’s 2010 budget announcement;

  The Scottish Government’s 2010 Spending Review;

  Delivery of Scottish Government infrastructure investment programmes, including the Schools for the Futures school building programme and hub initiative;

  Future strategic infrastructure options, including the health capital programme and offshore renewable energy infrastructure; and

  Scottish Government interaction with the European Investment Bank.

Scottish Government Funding

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it has given to the National Autistic Society in each year since 2007 and for what purpose.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has made the following payments to the National Autistic Society:

  2008-09 - £20,599.02

  2009-10 - £21,216.99

  2010-11 - £21,768.63

  These payments were made to the National Autistic Society, in relation to Independent schools such as Daldorch House School, which is managed by the National Autistic Society, to cover the increase in employers’ pension contributions to the Teachers Superannuation Scheme.

Scottish Government Funding

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38441 by John Swinney on 21 January 2011, what payments were made to each area data sharing partnership in 2009-10 and how much is budgeted for 2011-12, broken down by NHS board area.

John Swinney: No funding was provided to data sharing partnerships in 2009-10. No funding will be provided in 2011-12.

Smoking

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38738 by Shona Robison on 26 January 2011, what percentage of shops that underwent test purchasing failed on both the first and second exercises and what action was taken.

Shona Robison: The percentage of shops that underwent test purchasing and failed on both the first and second exercises were as follows:

  

Year
Failed both Visits


2008-09
5%


2009-10
9%


April to September 2010
9%



  Premises that failed both visits are the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal. Outcomes were as follows

  

Year
Fined
Fiscal Fine
Fiscal Warning
No Proceedings
Guilty Admonished
Non Court Disposal
Pending


2008
27%
0
42%
19%
12%
0
0


2009
35%
12%
12%
23%
0
4%
14%

Wildlife

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what options are available to (a) farmers and (b) crofters to protect their livestock from predation by wild animals and birds.

Roseanna Cunningham: Currently, farmers and crofters can claim support for the provision of shelters for stock in such areas which makes them less accessible to bird predators, for example, through the "Restructuring Agricultural Businesses" Option under Rural Priorities.

  A number of other deterrents like flying kites, scarecrows, flickering tapes etc can be used but all of these need backed up by a regular presence of people and physical scaring. In areas where these methods aren’t working or where they are impractical, there is recourse to using legal methods to minimise serious damage for those species of predator which can be legally controlled.

  The legislation that protects all wild birds, including sea eagles and ravens, as well as badgers already contains provisions to allow licences to be issued to control these species for the purpose of preventing serious damage to livestock.

  General licence No.2/2010, issued by the Scottish Government, authorises any person to kill or take certain species of wild birds in accordance with specific conditions for the purpose of the prevention of serious damage to livestock.

  For those species not covered by General licence No.2/2010, individual licences may be sought from the Scottish Government to kill or take any wild bird species, or badgers, for the same purpose. In considering any such licence application the Scottish Government would have to be satisfied that a licence was necessary to prevent serious damage and that there was no satisfactory alternative. Consideration would also be given to the impact of the licence on the conservation status of the species for which control is sought.

  Foxes may be controlled under the existing legislation without the need for a licence providing that permission has been granted from the landowner and subject to meeting the relevant animal welfare requirements and firearms provisions.

Wildlife

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns that too few options are available to farmers and crofters to protect their livestock from predation by wild animals and birds.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government believes that existing legislation in the Wildlife and Countryside Act already provides sufficient provisions for farmers, crofters or any other person to legally control certain species for the purpose of preventing serious damage to livestock. Farmers and crofters can also use scaring and protective measures, some of which have funding available to support them through Rural Priorities.

Wildlife

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it is conducting of the predation of farmers’ and crofters’ livestock by wild animals and birds.

Roseanna Cunningham: Studies into eagle (both golden and sea) predation of lambs have been carried out in Lochalsh; Mull; Benbecula, and Wester Ross since the 1980s.

  Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is currently not planning any further studies, but will respond to any serious issues which arise in future.

  The Scottish Government and SNH annually advise on predator and livestock incidents, primarily in relation to lambs, and issue licences where appropriate e.g. raven incidents.

  A new management scheme is being developed by SNH taking advice from the Sea Eagle Management Review Group. Membership of the group, chaired by SNH, includes representatives from the Scottish Government, the Forestry Commission Scotland, the Scottish Rural Properties and Business Association, the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the National Farmers Union Scotland, the Scottish Crofting Federation, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The management scheme, which is planned to be launched this spring, will be available across the range of sea eagles and include measures targeted towards protection of livestock.

Wildlife

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it continues to support the reintroduction of sea eagles given that evidence has suggested that limited supplies of live or fresh prey in Scotland have been a factor in the reduction of the breeding performance of golden eagles.

Roseanna Cunningham: The sea eagle was driven to extinction by human persecution over 90 years ago. It is one of our most spectacular native birds and the reintroduction programme is a mechanism to allow population recovery. The sea eagle is one of 32 species within Scottish Natural Heritage’s Species Action Framework endorsed by the Scottish Government and other government agencies.

  There are differences in territory selection between golden eagles and sea eagles in Scotland. Sea eagles generally nest at lower levels than golden eagles and prefer to nest in trees where they are available and close to the coast or lochs. Sea eagles also eat a broader diet with a higher proportion of sea birds and water birds as well as fish, whereas golden eagles eat a higher proportion of terrestrial species such as rabbits and hares.

  In the areas of western Scotland where both species occur the sea eagle population continues to increase whilst there have been some local increases in golden eagle numbers over the same time period. This means that neither food supplies, available nest sites or competition between the species is significantly impacting on either population, therefore there is no reason for the Scottish Government to withdraw its support for the reintroduction of sea eagles to Scotland in line with its biodiversity targets.

Wildlife

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the document, A Policy for Sika Deer in Scotland , published by the Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage in 1997 reflects Scottish Government policy.

Roseanna Cunningham: The document A Policy for Sika Deer in Scotland was led by the then Deer Commission for Scotland and was developed and agreed by a Sika working group (staff from the Deer Commission for Scotland, the Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage). It was published by the Stationery Office in 1997.

  The 1997 policy document has now been superseded by the Scottish Government's strategy for wild deer: Scotland's Wild Deer: A National Approach. Development of the strategy was led by the then Deer Commission for Scotland and aided by a steering group (Deer Commission for Scotland, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Rural Directorate of the Scottish Government) and an advisory group (representatives from organisations with an interest in deer management). It was also informed by a public consultation, a strategic environmental assessment and a socio-economic assessment. It was published in 2008.